Simple tricks to motivate yourself to lose weight

It might be there in the back of your mind: you want to lose weight. It might even be at the forefront of your attention – but that doesn’t mean you’ve found the motivation to actually do anything about it yet.

It’s easy enough to say that the diet starts on Monday. It’s so simple to proclaim that you’ll start going to the gym, as of next week. But finding the motivation to go through with it, now that, that is the tough part.

If you need some motivation to start eating better or exercising more, we can help. You know, losing weight doesn’t have to be miserable. It doesn’t have to be a battle. It’s perfectly possible to eat well, to not be hungry – and to lose weight. Here are a few simple tricks to get yourself motivated.

Discover your Motivation

It’s very difficult to focus on a goal if you don’t fully recognise the benefits of achieving that goal. So you want to lose weight. But why do you want to lose weight? Have a good, long think about the reasons why you want to shift those kilos – and write them down.

Perhaps you want to lose weight to fit into last year’s summer clothes – or maybe you want to buy new summer clothes, but in a smaller size. Perhaps you want to be more comfortable on the beach in your bathers.

Maybe it’s less about your looks and more about your health. Losing weight could mean trying a new activity this summer – one that you feel you couldn’t do before you lose the weight. That could be playing sports with your kids in the park, or it could be training for that half marathon.

Writing down your motivation has two major benefits. Firstly, it helps you get a clear idea of why you want to lose weight. This can give you the inspiration to start your new healthy way of living. Secondly, it lets you revisit your motivation when times get tough, giving you the courage to stay on the right path.

Keep Track

When it comes to weight loss success stories, everyone loves the before and after shots. You can clearly see where that person started, and what they look like now they’ve reached their goal. But do you think it would be as satisfactory to see progress shots each and every day?

When you’re losing weight, it can be tempting to step on the scales every day. You want some validation that what you’re doing is indeed, working. This can be the worst thing you can do, though. Instead of measuring the ups and downs of daily weigh-ins, give yourself time to see some actual progress. Weigh in weekly and see how far you’ve come.

Forgive Yourself

Weight loss is a journey. Corny, but true. You can’t expect that journey to always be a smooth one. There will be bumps along the way, where sometimes you feel like you are going backwards instead of forwards.

When it comes time for your weekly weigh-in and you don’t lose as much as you’d hoped for, don’t beat yourself up about it. Think about what you can do differently next week. Take it on as a challenge instead of a failure. Similarly, if you lapse in your diet or exercise regime, that doesn’t mean the whole week is a write-off. Don’t use it as an excuse to chuck in the towel. Forgive yourself – and move on.

Enjoy your Rewards

Just as you should forgive yourself for any failures, you should also reward yourself for your successes. When you reach your targets, give yourself a reward. This could be a little treat that you’re not normally allowed to eat. Or it could be a little pampering, like buying a new item of clothing or getting a mani-pedi.

Imagine the Possibilities

It’s easy to focus on all the things you will lose when you’re trying to lose weight. That could be doughnuts and burgers, or it could be lying on the couch watching TV all weekend. To spark that motivation, try instead to think about the things you will gain from losing weight.

That could be the freedom to shop for clothes you love, or it could be the confidence to wear more flattering clothing in summer. It could be the energy you will gain from eating well and exercising, or it could be the ability to play with your kids without losing your breath.

It could be even bigger than that. Perhaps you want to try something you’ve never done before. Losing weight could mean learning to surf, trying rock climbing and abseiling, or even, bucket list items, like diving the Great Barrier Reef. Imagine it, work for it, and those dreams are yours to gain.